Astra (album)

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Astra
Astra cover
Studio album by Asia
Released August 20, 1985
Recorded 1984
Genre Progressive rock
Length 44:47
Label Geffen
Producer(s) Mike "Clay" Stone
Professional reviews
Asia chronology
Alpha
(1983)
Astra
(1985)
Aqua
(1992)


Astra is a 1985 album by rock supergroup Asia. Started in 1984, Astra is the last Asia album to feature John Wetton on lead vocals. After being brought back into the fold for their third album, Wetton and Geoff Downes forged ahead with this effort. Steve Howe, having left sometime before the Astra sessions due to tensions with Wetton, was replaced by guitarist Mandy Meyer. With less lyrics about love, Astra was a bit different from its predecessors. Due to a lack of public interest, however, Astra failed to chart and went largely unnoticed. Wetton left Asia soon after the record's release. Meyer would never play with Asia again. The band itself, after canceling the Astra tour, was basically finished until 1990.

[edit] Track listing

All songs by Wetton/Downes execept where noted.

  1. "Go" – 4:07
  2. "Voice of America" – 4:27
  3. "Hard On Me" (Wetton/Downes/Palmer) – 3:34
  4. "Wishing" – 4:15
  5. "Rock and Roll Dream" – 6:51
  6. "Countdown to Zero" – 4:14
  7. "Love Now Till Eternity" – 4:11
  8. "Too Late" (Wetton/Downes/Palmer) – 4:12
  9. "Suspicion" – 3:45
  10. "After the War" – 5:11

[edit] Personnel

  • Geoff Downes - Keyboards
  • Mandy Meyer - Guitar
  • Carl Palmer - Drums
  • John Wetton - Vocals and Bass Guitars

"Go" was a minor hit, reaching #46 on the Billboard charts with a science fiction-themed video which played off the album cover.

[edit] Credits